LYNCHBURG, Va. - Women's basketball (11-7, 4-3 CUSA) hits the road again where they will take on Liberty (9-9, 3-4 CUSA) for their first of two matchups this season on Friday, January 30 at 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 30 at Liberty

• Time/Site: 7 p.m. / Liberty Arena

• Series History: FIU trails, 3-1

QUICK FACTS

The Panthers are looking to break a three-game losing streak against Liberty, with their last win coming in their first ever meeting during the 2023-24 season. Overall, the Flames lead the all-time series, 3-1.

Coming into the matchup, FIU are second in CUSA in scoring on the season with 74.7 points scored per game, and second in CUSA-play, putting up 69.6 points on CUSA opponents.

Rhema Collins has been a force all season, coming into the matchup with nine  double-doubles, first in CUSA and 19th in the nation. On the season, Collins is first in CUSA with 18.5 points per game, first with 9.9 rebounds per game and first in blocks per game as well with 1.7.

Parris Atkins has been as advertised from her CUSA Preseason All-Conference selection. The guard is tied for second in CUSA, averaging 17.6 points per game, and has been all over the court on defense. With 3.5 steals per game, she is second in CUSA and 11th in the nation in steals. 

Rhema Collins scored a career-high 40 points against Georgia State. It is the most points scored in CUSA this season, and the most any player in CUSA has scored since the 2022-23 season. It's the first time an FIU player has had a 40-point performance since 2017, and she is only the seventh player since at least 1994 to achieve 40 points in a game as a Panther.

Parris Atkins scored a career-high 35 points against Missouri State in the Panthers' first game of conference-play this season. She is only the 24th player in program history to score 35 or more points in a game since 2005, and it is the second most points scored that any player in Conference USA has scored this season.

Atkins also scored 20+ points two games in a row from 1/10-1/15/23. She is the first player to achieve that status since the 2022-23 season. Rhema Collins followed that up with another two 20+ point in a row performances in the Panthers' road trip at New Mexico State and UTEP.

Freshman Grecia Ferrer Leal has been as good as you can get from a first year, ranking in the top-4 in the league in both assists per game and total assists. 

Junior Denika Lightbourne had a career day against Jacksonville State when she put up a staggering 25 points in just 16 minutes played. She surpassed her previous career-high of 21 which she achieved in the first game of the season against South Florida.

CUSA Leaders:

OFFENSIVE

Scoring:

Rhema Collins, 1st - 18.5 ppg

Parris Atkins, T-2nd - 17.6 ppg

Rebounding:

Rhema Collins, 1st - 9.9 rpg

FIELD GOAL %:

Rhema Collins, 5th - 48.1%

Free-Throw %:

Parris Atkins, 6th - 78.1%

Rhema Collins, 8th - 74.8%

Assists:

Grecia Ferrer, 4th - 3.9 apg

Total Assists:

Grecia Ferrer, 3rd - 71

DEFENSIVE

Blocks:

Rhema Collins, 1st - 1.7 bpg

Steals:

Parris Atkins, T1st - 3.5 spg

Sophomore Ndate Ndiaye scored her career-high against Florida National with 15 points. She surpassed her previous career-high of 13 points which came in a victory over Seattle in the FIU Thanksgiving Tournament. 

FIU welcomes back five returners to Miami in senior Parris Atkins, redshirt-sophomore Fantasia James, junior Judit Valero and sophomores Ndate Ndiaye and Claudia Marina.

Parris Atkins and Fantasia James were both honored with CUSA All-Conference awards last season. Parris Atkins, then in her first season as a Panther, was an immediate contributor and made the CUSA All-Conference Second Team. James, a redshirt freshman at the time, was named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team for her performance during the 2024-25 season.

FIU has the most international players rostered in Conference USA. The Panthers boast 12 of their 14 players born outside of the United States.

FIU is coming off a 2024-25 season that saw the Panthers go 11-18 overall and 7-11 in conference-play, ending sixth in the conference. 

SCOUTING THE FLAMES

Liberty is 9-9 on the season with a 3-4 record against Conference USA opponents, good for eighth in CUSA up until this point.The Flames are putting up 65.9 points per game while allowing 63.5, good for seventh and sixth in CUSA respectively. 

Liberty is led by sophomore guard Avery Mills, who is first on the team and fourth in CUSA in scoring with 15.6 points scored per game on 42.3% shooting. Close behind her is forward Emmy Stout, currently putting up 14.9 points per game (seventh in CUSA) on 52.3% shooting, also grabbing 6.8 rebounds per contest. 

Fellow forward Ify Nwaobi has been great on the glass this season, grabbing 9.6 rebounds per game, good for second in CUSA.

The Panthers are 3-1 in their four games, looking to bounce back after a loss in their last game against Louisiana Tech.

TICKETS

For more information on FIU tickets to FIU basketball home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE

SOCIAL MEDIA

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@fiuwbb), Twitter (@FIUWBB), and Facebook (@FIUWBasketball) for all the latest Women's Basketball news. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSportson Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.